With the holiday season just around the corner, families and individuals should thoughtfully consider giving the ultimate gift to a child this year: the gift of family.
By DeJuana Jernigan, Director of Child Welfare and Residential Treatment Services, DePelchin Children’s Center
There is no better way to make a difference in a child’s life than by adopting him or her into your family. Although many families and individuals travel to foreign countries to adopt, more than 1,300 children in the Greater Houston area are just waiting for a forever family. These are children who have been removed from abusive homes, placed into foster care and have become legally free for adoption when parental rights are terminated. Many of these children have suffered from trauma and desperately need the care of a permanent, loving home.
DePelchin Children’s Center believes every child deserves a forever family and supports couples and individuals wanting to adopt children who are in the custody of Child Protective Services. Last year, 180 children were welcomed into their forever families through DePelchin, alongside its affiliate Caring Family Network. However, there are still more children in need.
We invite you to meet some of DePelchin’s families who adopted children from foster care. Read how they gave these children the ultimate gift of family–and got so much more in return!
Scott and Jennifer Lester
Tell us about the children in your family.
Mya is 13, and we adopted her when she was 1 ½ years old. DeRenee is 10, and we adopted her when she was 3. Owen is our biological son, and he is 5 years old.
How has adoption changed your family?
Before we had these kids, our lives felt very empty. Now we can say our lives are anything but empty. Our family is full of life and energy – there is truly never a dull moment! We have had great opportunities along with our challenges, and we are overwhelmed and amazed to see how each of our children has grown. We are blessed and grateful to be able to raise these children.
What would you tell other families about adopting?
Do it! Everyone emphasizes what parents bring to adopted children, but our kids have brought so much more to us.
Donnie and Barbara Holiday
Tell us about the children in your family.
We have adopted siblings – Jermaine, who is 6 years old, and Mikeen, who is 4 years old.
What was your family like before kids, and how have these two boys changed your lives now?
Before it was quiet and still, but now full of love and chaos! We are busy constantly, especially with baseball activities.
What would you tell other families beginning the process of adopting?
You definitely need to take your time and be realistic that it is a process of matching kids with families. Sometimes it is not easy, but in the end, it is so worth the wait. These are our kids, and we know that with every ounce of our heart.
Ray and Sally Griffiths
Tell us about the children in your family.
We adopted two girls who are actually siblings. We adopted Leanne, who is now 10 years old, when she was 11 months old and Summer, who is now 9 years old, when she was 5 days old. After we went through the process of adopting Leanne, we got a call the next day that her biological mom was pregnant with a second child, and they wanted to know if we would like her sister Summer too.
What was your family like before kids and what is it like now?
Our girls have enriched our lives. We still do a lot of the same activities, but everything we do now is more child-focused. We really feel like we are giving back to others now instead of just living for ourselves.
What would you tell other families about adopting?
It is the best way to change someone else’s life.
If you are interested in making a difference in a child’s life and joining the DePelchin family, we invite you to attend an informational orientation session which occur weekly at DePelchin locations throughout the Greater Houston area. Visit www.depelchin.org or call 713-802-6200 to learn more or email us at fosteroradopt@depelchin.org.
